Origin
Lithonia, GA
Late night in Lithonia on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 31m
Distance
175 mi
282 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lithonia, GA
Joshua Brown
Albany, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Lithonia to Albany is 175 miles and takes about 3h 31m via Fall Line Freeway and I-75, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Georgia, taking you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's perfectly manageable for a single day of travel. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, making it a practical option if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.5 miles from Lithonia, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Line Freeway | 56.9 mi | 1h |
| I 75 | 38.6 mi | 41m |
| Georgia-Florida Parkway | 35.1 mi | 43m |
| Larry Justice Highway | 16.1 mi | 17m |
| Highway 155 North | 9.7 mi | 13m |
| Klondike Road | 5.9 mi | 11m |
| East Oglethorpe Boulevard | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| South Zack Hinton Parkway | 2.8 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lithonia, GA and Albany, GA.
Start on Rock Chapel Road
Continue on Main Street
Turn left onto Klondike Road
Enter roundabout onto Klondike Road
Continue on Klondike Road
Turn left onto Union Church Road
Enter roundabout onto GA 138
Continue on GA 138
Turn left onto GA 155
Continue on GA 155
At end of road, turn left onto GA 20; GA 81; GA 155
Turn right onto GA 155
Continue on GA 155
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
Merge onto I 75; GA 540
Take the exit
Turn right onto GA 300
Continue on Cordele Road
Turn right onto Old Cordele Road
Turn straight onto US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
Continue on US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
Turn left onto East Broad Avenue
Turn right onto North Front Street
Enter roundabout onto Pine Avenue
Continue on Pine Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the 3h 31m duration, this is a very achievable same-day trip. Aim to depart Lithonia in the morning to give yourself ample time to reach Albany without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before hitting the longest stretch on the Fall Line Freeway, to ensure you're well-prepared. The $27 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, so plan accordingly.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 39 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, GA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lithonia, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lithonia, GA
This is one driving day of about 175 miles and 3h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 87.5 miles from Lithonia, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 20 and 174.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto GA 155 / South Zack Hinton Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475 / Larry Justice Highway toward I 475 South: Valdosta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, Albany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Old Cordele Road
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto Pine Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Regular Gas
$27.37 one way
$54.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $29.92 | $59.84 |
| premium | $4.70 | $32.39 | $64.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.64 | $77.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.38 | $8.40 |
| Efficient EV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.31 | $7.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70 | 0 | $24.50 | $11.20 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lithonia on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Albany on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 82% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll experience the Fall Line Freeway for a significant stretch, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 56.9 miles. The journey transitions to I-75 and then the Georgia-Florida Parkway, indicating a shift towards faster, interstate-style travel for much of the trip. Expect a consistent pace on these well-maintained highways, making for a predictable driving experience.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Fall Line Freeway and I 75. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20 miles in near GA 155 / South Zack Hinton Parkway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 175 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20 miles (GA 155 / South Zack Hinton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 62.1 miles (I 475 / Larry Justice Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 135.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Albany is a city of 72,000 people (2019) in Dougherty County in Georgia's Plantation Midlands region. It is part of the Black Belt, the extensive area in the Deep South of cotton plantations. During 1961–1962, African Americans in Albany played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, founding the Albany Movement, a desegregation and voters' rights coalition formed in 1961. Ray Charles, the singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer, was born here, and is remembered in a park with a statue.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 175 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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